Healthcare providers need to understand decision-making processes of patients asked to accept or decline implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy, according to an study by Sandra Carroll, PhD, and colleagues just published in Health Expectations. The research, conducted among 44 patients, found that the physician's recommendation and a new awareness of the risk of sudden cardiac death motivated patients to accept ICD therapy. "It is imperative that patients comprehend the meaning of ICD candidacy to make an informed decision," according to the authors. Most patients did not recall hearing about alternatives to ICD therapy. SOURCE: WIley Online Library